The Jewel in the Garment

 The jewel in the garment analogy is one of my favorites in Chan Buddhism. Master Boshan certainly does utilize it in his text when he notes, "In the midst of stillness, we must discover this precious thing hidden under the lining of the garment." (from Attaining the Way, p.8). What does this precious jewel mean, and why does Master Boshan jump to this discussion after he has already exhorted practitioners not to settle into quiescence?

   Perhaps what is being meant here is that the precious jewel is already with us in each and every moment, and all we need to do is realize it through a practice of dropping all attachments to whatever is happening now. This is a kind of radical acceptance, which is not to be confused with affirming or even "liking" what is happening in the present moment. The "silence" within the stillness refers to the fact that even in the midst of our busy lives, our mind is already in a state of stillness, meaning that it isn't really moving at all, any more than the substance of water itself is "moved" by the waves. Water is water, regardless of the size or magnitude of the waves. In the same respect, we cannot speak of moving mind when there is movement around us, because the mind is not actually moving with the phenomena. So, to discover the precious jewel is to be aware that the mind we use to see movement, busyness, vexations and all the changes around us is precisely the mind that is truly unmoving. 

What this means is that it is not necessary to run away from a busy life. We can engage it but in a relaxing way, knowing that this stirring is created by ourselves. When I realize this , my mind is able to be more with each moment rather than rushing to the next, knowing that in fact every single moment is the perfect, illuminating mind. There is no rush to "gain" or "grasp" something that is ever present, because we are no longer identified with some future self or image of an enlightened being.